Around the World with 80 Schools Project

Sylvia who has been using Skype for a few years now in her own school wants to encourage others to participate in a global experiment where classrooms around the world can connect with each other and pupils can explain a little bit about where they live and what life is like in their country in 5 minute conversations. This could mean simply saying hello, learning some foreign words or collecting data for a weather report.

Sylvia finds that using Skype in this way makes learning real for pupils and proves how small the world has become thanks to technology.

Within a week of its launch, nearly 60 schools have signed up for the project already which bodes very well for its success and proves the desire for schools to collaborate with around the world.

To cope with time differences, Sylvia is intending to organise sessions before school and in the evening so that pupils can talk to their international peers in different continents in real time. To call countries such as Australia, New Zealand and China, this may mean having a lockin sleepover party so that as night falls pupils can connect with schools that are waking up across the globe.

If you would like to take part in the project, you can sign up on the Google Form Sylvia has prepared. She is particularly interested in hearing from classrooms from Europe and Africa.

If you are concerned about using Skype in the classroom, I suggest you listen to Dave Solon's podcast interview Skype is a Valuable Educational Tool which should put your fears to rest.